Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin
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Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin (December 16, 1901 - April 14, 1944), Soviet infantry officer, achieved the rank of general.
Born in Chepujino (Shebekino?), the son of a cavalry sergeant, he joined the Red Army in 1920.
Prior to the start of the Great Patriotic War, he served as chief of staff of the Kiev Military District, and as head of the Operations Directorate. In 1941, he served as deputy to Zhukov. He served as chief of staff of Northwestern Front (see: Soviet Fronts in WWII) during the winter, returning to his previous position the following year.
In 1942, he was given command of Bryansk Front. On July 7, Bryansk Front was redesignated Voronezh Front, which would become the command for which he is best known. He commanded Voronezh Front during and following the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. In November of that year (by which time his command had been redesignated 1st Ukrainian Front), he led the liberation of Kiev. He was ambushed by UPA insurgents, far behind front lines, on February 28, 1944, and died of his wounds on April 14.
(Note: some sources give the date of the attack as February 29 and the date of Vatutin's death as April 15.)